Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-02-10
MYRTLE'S " VALENTINE
Tt Brought Health to a Little Ger
man Girl.

''Why, Myrtle, where have you been
all this time? the day scholars have
been gone half an hour!'' cried a trio
of girls clustered about the school
room register, one cold, cloudy after
noon in February, as bright-eyed,
authenticated maiden entered with
book in her hand, and joined the
group,
1.-The Fraulein must have been IN
bad humOr to keep her pet pupil so
long" added one of the party. mo,
the German lesson was particularly
harmonious to-day, but l have been
taking to Fraulein Won Hillern about
poor Hilda;' said the new conner. '.Do
you know, girls, how very i'll she is?''
why! L thought the fever had quite
left ber!" exclaimed Bertha Grey. $50
it has, but has left her so weak and
low-spirited, nothing can rouse her.
Fraulein has to leave her niece alone
when she comes to school, and Hilda
can not read much on account of her
head; so she lies there and worries be-
cause she is running behind in her
classes, and is such an expense to her
II bOuINt OLCtth lOuI HcStIG "
hear poor Fraulein say: Mine little
Hilda, she is all have in the world,
and the Herr Doctor says she will die,
If there come not change soon. A
little diversion is what she wants, but
where is the little diversion to come
from? And then she covered her face
with her handkerchief, and sobbed so,
l just had to sit down and cry too"
1--WE all know how kind-hearted YOU
are, Myrtle" said Daisy Dean, putting
her ann round her friends waist.
''Will you believe. girls, caught her
this morning fishing half-drowned fly
out of her inkstand; and drying its
wings in the sun?n Mistaken charity
THAT, little Miss Bergh,' said May
Carlisle, 'but l am really sorry to hear
about poor Hilda. What a Jolly girl
she used to be! the life of our class at
one time. l wish we could do some
thing for her." Il have been thinking
of that" said Myrtle. 1--WE could not
cure her, of course, but day after to-
morrow is the fourteenth. and thought
it might cheer her up bit, if we should
each send her valentine. What do
you think of it?'' eve will, we WILL"
cried the other three in breath.
Il will get gorgeous embossed af-
fair. all hearts and darts, and fond low
er's knots said Bertha, land tie it up
in box with true-blue ribbon" "And
mine shall be lovely bunch of tea
roses." said Daisy, ''that will brighten
cup the shabby little room where she
lives" Il am sorry have bought so
many caramels and macaroOns this
term" sighed May. ..but 1 think have
enough money left to get small bas-
ket of fruit; white grapes and oranges
and such things You might be sure
May would choose something to eat"
suggested Bertha, with merry glance
at the little girl, who was very small
and delicate looking; ''her sweet tooth
is the largest part of her. But what
will you send Myrtle?" .'Ahl that is a
secret. and you must wait and see. 1t
would make you all jealous if l should
tell you. Tomorrow is half holiday,
and L must go ut once and ask permits
sion of madam to 90 down town."
and Myrtle danced gaily out of the
room, her mercurial spirits having
quite recovered from the depression
Fraulein's story had cast over them.
Il don't call that fair" grumbled
DaisE Dean; 1--WE have told her our in
tentions, and she needn't make a mys-
terry of hers" And it was her own
proposition to send these love mis-
sives;" put in May. Il call it decidedly
mean," said Bertha. land 1 don't be-
lieve her gift will be very grand after
all. But have a composition to write.
and must go at it right away" So it
was with rather indignant feelings
towards their schoolmate that
the three girls dispersed to their re-
spective tasks, for this quartette of
maidens were the only boarlers in
Madame Vernon's Select School for
Young Ladies and Children" the other
scholars coming for the day only; and
fortunately they generally agreed
remarkably we'll. and were the warm
est and closest of friends.
The little misunderstanding soon blew
over, however, for no one could long
Withstand Myrtle Madron's sweet win
ming ways, for quick and impulsive al
she was, and apt to be carried away by